Improved apparatus for desulphurizing ores



. PATENTED JAN. 16, 1866. A. H. TAIT & J. w. AVIS. APPARATUS FOR DESULPHURIZING 0125s.

I 7/2772 assay tion, in which- UNITED STA ES PATENT OF ICE.

AiIGUsTUs H. TAlT AND JOSEPH w. AVIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED APPARATUS Foe DESULPHURIZINQ cuss.

Specif cation formingpart of Letters Patent No. 52,090, dated January l6, 1866.

. exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, forming part of this specifica- -Figure lrepresents a longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus which we use in carrying out'our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Similar letters ofreierenceindicatewrre ,sponding parts. v 1 This invention consists in the use of a current of compressed atmospheric air heated to the proper temperature-say, about 600 Fahr- -in.to a suitable receptacle. In: cascof a certain description of refractory .enheit-by passing the same through pipes placed in a furnace, or by passingit through the fire itself .in a closed box, said heated air being constantly maintained at a pressure of from twentyto forty pounds to the square inch,.in combination with a closed .box or receptacle containing the ore or sulphuret'which have been reduced toiine powder, in such a manner. that the air is compelled to pass through the entire mass of ore, and the oxygen contained in the air'isaliowed to act on the -sulphur to the best possible-advantage.

certain cases the process can be facilitated by the introduction of nitrous oxide in combinaizin'g sulphurets by a current of heated compressed atmospheric air impelled by a suitable metal or any-other suitable material, lined'with' 'tion with" the" atmospheric air.

A represents the ore-furnace, made of sheet brick and provided with a trap -to put in the ore at the top, and another trap to let out the "ore at the bottom. This furnace maybe made about ten feet high, and loaded to the depth of six and a half feet with ore finely pulverized. Into this furnace a current of compressed heated air, is driven by the action 'of an air-- pump, 0, the air, being heated by passing it through the surcharge air-furnace B, either in a pipe, as shown, or so that the air passes directly throughthe fire. This pipe is provided with a stop-cock, a, and with a suitable thermometer to indicate the temperature of the 4 air, and when the furnace A has been loaded and the fire in the air-furnace'lighted the cock a'is opened and the air, heated to from 500 to 600 Fahrenheit, is let into the ore-furnace through the aperture b. This furnace is provided with a valve, a, loaded to about-twenty-- five pounds to the square inch, and as soon as the pressure in the furnace reaches this 'point said valve opens at-every stroke of the pump andallows the escape of the sulphiiious acid and nitrogen generated in the furnace A by the decomposition of the heated-airin its passage through theore of pyrites' injs'aid furnace.

A. trial-cock, d, is provided at the bottom- 'enfd ot' the pipe which supports the valve 0,

and by opening this cock it is. easy to ascertain when the sulphurels are decomposed by the absence ofsulphurous acid, easily detected by its smell. When this state has been reached,

the trap-c is opened and the charge let down sulphurets we iiud the use of a small portion retort m, of great advantage for the purpose of facilitating .the union ot'fthe sulphur withatmospheric heated air.

. ,In a complete apparatus two ore-cylinders are worked alternately or together.

We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The process herein described of desulph pump, in combination with .a' closed furnace containing the ore, substantially as set forth. .2. The use in this process of nitric-oxide gas, in combination with the atmospheric air,

as set forth.

3. The use of steam in combination with the heated air, as and for the purpose described.

A. H. mm JOSEPH W. AVIS.

Witnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON, W. HAUFF. 

